New springs....help!!

[blueraSCeR]

I just got some Progress 1.8s installed on my '00 SC2...and the ride totally sucks! The guy who installed them said that when he took my shocks off they were totally messed up! He said all the bearings came out and now when I drive it I hear a popping noise coming from the front driver's side...but the ride seemed fine before the springs were put on. I don't know very much about suspension, so any info you guys could give would be great! Is it possible this guy messed up my shocks while doing the install? What type of noise (if any) should I be hearing after lowering the car? Are shocks hard to install? What would you recommend? What's the difference between struts and shocks (I told you I don't know much about suspension!)? The ride is still very smooth...the car doesn't bounce at all and it only makes the popping noise when I go over bumps...it also creaks a little when turning. I'm just worried I messed up my whole setup!!

[bbarbulo]

Progress springs are AWESOME!!! The popping noise is most likely a damaged or mis-installed strut top bearing that you should have inspected by a competent shop. You should not be hearing any noise at all...

[blueraSCeR]

i agree that Progress springs are awesome! I think I was just a victim of a bad install...i hope its nothing that serious!

[blueraSCeR]

doing a little searching for struts...the cheapest I've found the KYBs is $65 each at SaturnMotorsports...will this fix my problem? I'm still not clear on what the difference between shocks and struts are...

[eRic 02sc2]

the springs are stiffer than stock so the ride will be stiffer. what are the spring rates for the progress springs? if your struts were bad, adding stiffer springs will make things worse. the creaking noise could be the front strut bearings need to be replaced. that's why the ball bearings fell out when the struts were removed. you can't blame your worn struts and strut bearings on the installer. have a saturn tech check them out.

[blueraSCeR]

I know it mainly depends on how much you drive (and how harsh you drive), but is it normal for a '00 car with 55,000 miles on it to have bad struts? I've heard that they should've been fine...I'm not too sure what the spring rates for the Progress are...i plan on having the car checked out asap!

[bbarbulo]

I'm almost positive it's not your struts... bad struts would make your car bounce and there would be oil all over your struts, but the clicking noise you described sounds like a bad ball joint/tie rod (highly unlikely with a 2000 car), so that leads me to believe your strut bearings are bad... they are between your strut towers and the top of your MacPhearson strut.

[blueraSCeR]

I talked to the owner of the shop and he did say my strut bearings were bad...but he also said all 4 struts were blown. I'm not sure if they're just telling me that because they want me to spend more money. Does anyone know how much the strut bearings are and where I can get them (other than the retailer)? I'm thinking about just replacing the bearing to see if the ride improves; if it doesn't at that point I'll replace the struts, maybe even one at a time! Another question I had was if I'm planning on going with KYBs, does the stock strut bearing work fine with the aftermarket strut? The guy at the shop said that KYB sells the strut bearing, but it's like $50! He was unsure if stock strut bearings would work with KYBs. Is it also true that Saturns don't have bumpstops? I know nothing about suspension, but the shop told me that one main difference between imports and domestics is that we use struts instead of shocks and we don't have bumpstops...Anyways, they said they could get me the KYBs for $240 (all four) and it would be another $80 for the install...I guess I'm gonna have to do it, I'd hate to mess anything up!

[Airforce1]

If I remember correctly the strut bearing is like 15 bucks. A real shop should have it in and out in 20min. That sounds like exactly what the problem is.

[Airforce1]

And I don't think kyb sells the bearing. It is an OEM Saturn retailer buy. You may have to buy the entire upper strut assembly and that is about 75bucks if I remember correctly. Or you could go to a junk yard and get a used front strut for like 20 bucks make sure the spring is still on it so then you could take it back to the shop you went to and demand that they remove the strut bearing assembly off the used one and reinstall it on yours. Tell them to be careful this time.

[spydrwebb]

blue - If all 4 of your struts ARE actually shot, replace all 4. Don't make the mistake of riding around on 1 or 2 new ones and leaving the others. You will definitely notice the difference, even if you were thinking about spreading out the new (1 each for the front and rear), its just not worth the hassle. Little more money up front but a LOT more peace of mind over time.

[blueraSCeR]

spydrwebb, i think you're right...i'll probably get all of them replaced just to be on the safe side. so as far as anyone knows, only saturn sells the bearings? i know i can get cheap struts for less than $60 each, but i want to ensure the best ride quality with the new lowering springs...will stock struts suffice?

[spydrwebb]

It really comes down to the fact that new OE struts will be just fine, but aftermarket struts will definitely be better. If overall cost is the issue, you will be OK with the stock struts. If they ARE actually shot, there's no comparison to KYB and they are well worth the investment, if feasible. Yes, Saturn is the only place to pick up the bearings, or the parts consultant might have a line on some wholesale stock bearings. Depends on where you go and a little bit of who you know.

[Sam96SL2]

yes saturns have bumptops, they should be trimmed also, i would say cut them in half.

The guy doing your spring intall ddint know what he was doing, if you are not careful when disassembling the front struts you will lose the bearings, normally those bearings don't fail.

BTW saturns have Struts at all 4 wheels, most cars if not all now a days have struts, trucks usually have shocks..shocks bolt on differently than sturts.

The strut bearings should have no effect on your ride quality,

If i where you i would take it back to the place demand that they replace your strut bearings FREE, and go back in and trim your bumpstops, they are located in the dust boot. They look like a yellow squishy piece or hard rubber..TRUST ME WE HAVE BUMPSTOPS

[eRic 02sc2]

Originally posted by blueraSCeR
I talked to the owner of the shop and he did say my strut bearings were bad...but he also said all 4 struts were blown. I'm not sure if they're just telling me that because they want me to spend more money. Does anyone know how much the strut bearings are and where I can get them (other than the retailer)? I'm thinking about just replacing the bearing to see if the ride improves; if it doesn't at that point I'll replace the struts, maybe even one at a time! Another question I had was if I'm planning on going with KYBs, does the stock strut bearing work fine with the aftermarket strut? The guy at the shop said that KYB sells the strut bearing, but it's like $50! He was unsure if stock strut bearings would work with KYBs. Is it also true that Saturns don't have bumpstops? I know nothing about suspension, but the shop told me that one main difference between imports and domestics is that we use struts instead of shocks and we don't have bumpstops...Anyways, they said they could get me the KYBs for $240 (all four) and it would be another $80 for the install...I guess I'm gonna have to do it, I'd hate to mess anything up!

you might as well replace all the stuff at once. it will cost you just as much labor to replace the strut bearings as it costs to replace the springs which will cost as much as replacing the struts. the same procedure applies for all three of these. instead of spending $80, then $80 again, then another $80. replace the struts and bearing together and you won't have to worry about it again for a long while. btw they are struts, not shocks. the shop is full of crap regarding the main difference between imports and domestics. you can have either a strut or a shock or two of each and/or bumpstops on either one. it all depends on the suspension design, not country of origin. when you replace the struts, replace ALL FOUR at once, not one at at time. also yes, the stock saturn struts bearings work fine with kyb struts. $240 for 4 kyb struts is a great price. get them. stock saturn replacement struts cost more that that. $50 sounds about right for strut bearings. the bumpstops are inside the saturn dust boots on top. there aren't any on the frame if that's what the shop was looking for.

[spydrwebb]

blue - does the $240 include mounts and boots, S/H?

If not, click the link below for a better price on the KYBs

http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/S...d=all&x=87&y=4

[blueraSCeR]

The $240 only includes the 4 struts w/shipping as far as I know...he didn't say it included anything else. you know, when he took me into the back of the shop to show me my bearings all over the floor, i also noticed 4 boots laying on the ground...i wonder if those were mine! i spoke to the manager of the shop and he said it's not their fault my bearings broke, that they were already like that and when they removed everything to put the new springs on the bearing just fell out! and now that I know we do have bumpstops it's obvious the shop is full of crap! i will attempt to contact them again and tell them i want to see the work they did. the guy offered to show me what my struts were doing at no charge...that way i can see what everything looks like and get a better description for you guys...i know that i need to get everything replaced, and actually i'm down with spending the extra cash to get everything done at the same time. i'm just a little concerned with the work this company did and really don't want to take it back to them!

[eRic 02sc2]

it's not their fault that the ball bearing fell out. how many miles were on them? they better have put the boots with the bumpstops back on. you can look in the wheelwell and see. i'd suggest picking up a chiltons manual or looking in saturn factory service manuals to see what the suspension parts are supposed to look like.

[Airforce1]

If your ride is not bumpy but solid, why replace your struts? Just find the bearing and have it replaced. It is only in one corner, right? I think that the bearings seperate pretty easily, even new ones if I am remembering correctly. Does KYB make different models of struts for the S car? You want the GR2(Ithink) model.

[blueraSCeR]

there's only 55,000 miles on the car...and roads aren't that bad where i live. i will take a look to see what the springs look like, where should the boot be located? i shouldn't be able to see the bumpstops, right? the price they quoted ($240) is for the GR-2s with shipping...it's still the best price i've found so far...i called the saturn retailer and they're charging about $68 per bearing, i'm debating on whether or not i should just take it to them!